The Conversion Of Spent Mushroom Substrate To Biofertilizer And Its Effect On The Growth Of Pennisetum Sp.

Spent mushroom substrate(SMS)is a by-product from mushroom production industry.The use of spent mushroom substrate as a biofertilizer in agriculture has received attention because of its bioactivity.Biofertilizers have been identified as an alternative to chemical fertilizers to increase crop production and to fertilize the soil in order to sustain good farming.The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus spent mushroom substrates converted to biofertilizer on the growth of Pennisetum sp.grass,on different soil types and the nutritional value of the forage.Pennisetum grass sp.is a very popular grass in the tropical and subtropical regions.Pennisetum purpureum is referred to as the Elephant grass or Napier grass;it grows rapidly during a high precipitation and high temperature period.The study evaluated the effect of soil(loamy and sandy)amendment with the spent mushroom substrate of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus.Study was conducted in a one year pot experiment,to investigate the effects the spent mushroom substrate had on the growth and nutrition of the grass.Soil was treated with the spent mushroom substrates at different ratios(80:20;60:40;50:50;40:60;20:80)of Loamy Ganoderma,Loamy Pleurotus,Sandy Ganoderma and Sandy Pleurotus(LG,LP,SG and SP)in 20 Iitre pots which were well aerated at the bottom.The results showed that,the application of SMS significantly(p>0.05)increased the growth of Pennisetum grass.Data were analysed by using analysis of variance and Duncan's range test.Parameters of this experiment were the chemical constituents of the plant and soil nutrients(nutrition),the plant and root biomass and dry yield,grass height,number of tiller,leaf length and width and stem diameter.The roots surface area,average diameter,root length,root volume,tips and forks were analysed.Photosynthesis rates were significant at p>0.05.A balanced rooting system affects the plant height and availability of growing substrate with the supplement of essential nutrients is vital for attaining maximum plant height.The intercellular carbon dioxide concentration(Ci),stomatal conductance(gs),net photosynthesis(A),transpiration rate(E)and water use-efficiency(WUE)were analysed.For plants to attain a maximum growth and development,a good rooting system is required,to supply adequate nutrients for plants.Nutrition plays a fundamental role in animal feed;the ability of an animal to consume and perform better is dependent on the quality of feeds(the crude fiber,protein,fat and dry matter).The results for plant nutrition were significant.Results show that treatment 40:60 SP(13.11%)had the highest ash content and 60:40 SG(3.74%)had the lowest.The treatment with the highest ether extract of 56.60%was 60:40 LP,and sandy CK with the lowest CF at 0.99%.Crude fiber,93.92%in 40:60 LP had the highest and 34.59%in 80:20 SP as the lowest.Loamy CK had the highest protein value,75.34%while 20:80 LG showed the lowest protein value,27.51%.The main results are as follows:80:20 LG had the highest height,187.14±40.47 cm;and the lowest in 20:80 SG,30± 12.76 cm.Stem with the thickest diameter have more mechanical strength to resist breaking and bending against stressful environmental conditions.The highest stem diameter was in treatment 20:80 SP(13.73± 1.15 mm).20:80 SP(963.30± 327.46 g)was the treatment with the maximum weight;treatments attaining maximum increase in their fresh weights depict the nutrient rich growing media.The results indicated that Pennisetum sp.root system preferred the sandy(looser sand)soil more than loamy soil.Roots allow a plant to absorb nutrients and water from the soil,root and vital for crops to grow to its maximum yield under conditions under water deficient conditions.Treatment 20:80 SP appears to also have the biggest root fresh weight(542.76± 505.94 g),20:80 LP with the highest root length(6763 cm).Average root diameter in 80:20 LG(1.96± 2.14 mm).Root volume,40:60 SG(100.78± 70.46 cm3).Photosynthesis in plants is limited by two factors,the stomatal conductance,which regulates the carbon dioxide supply to the plant through its leaves.The treatment with the highest photosynthesis rate was 40:60 LG,with a mean value of 26.23 H2Om-2s-1 followed by 50:50 SG(25.22 H2Om-2s-1),vbeing higher than both the CK treatments.Treatment with the highest gs was 40:60 LP(214.84 molH2Om-2s-1)and the lowest being the loamy CK(90.16 molH2Om-2s-1).There was a relation between gs and E when stomatal conductance increases,the transpiration rate also increases.The relationship between the intercellular CO2 and net photosynthesis shows that they are directly proportional.The increase in the carbon dioxide emissions in the environment may increase the water use-efficiency and stimulate the net photosynthesis.The results obtained in this study can be interpreted in relation with one another and also independently,it all depends on the individual desire with the plant,the treatments results'give the necessary information.